With that in mind, let's take a closer look at Verizon's business and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

Verizon facts

Headquarters (founded)

New York (1983)

Market Cap

$117.7 billion

Industry

Integrated telecommunication services

Trailing-12-Month Revenue

$112.1 billion

Management

Chairman/CEO Lowell McAdamCFO Francis Shammo

Return on Equity (average, past 3 years)

12.7%

Cash/Debt

$6.5 billion / $51.6 billion

Dividend Yield

4.8%

Competitors

AT&TSprint NextelT-Mobile USA

Sources: S&P Capital IQ and Motley Fool CAPS.

On CAPS, 94% of the 4,876 members who have rated Verizon believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward.

Just last month, one of those Fools, tichtalk, highlighted several of the company's positives:

Verizon is a clear industry leader, with strong recurring cash flow and healthy margins. The firm's financial health has improved significantly as it has used asset sales, spin-offs and cash flow to sharply reduce debt in recent years. ... Verizon's current valuation, high dividend yield, and potential for modest capital gain over the near term support this [bullish view]. ... Additionally Verizon's average annual dividend yield over 5 years has been 5.3%, further making the case for holding.

If you want market-beating returns, you need to put together the best portfolio you can. Owning exceptional stocks is a surefire way to secure your financial future. Of course, despite its four-star rating, Verizon may not be your top choice.

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Want to see how well (or not so well) the stocks in this series are performing? Follow the newTrackPoisedToCAPS account.